As part of its plans to develop solar PV farms in China's deserts, First Solar announced a Cooperation Framework Agreement with China's Ordos City Government that takes another step towards the realization of the world's largest solar power plant in the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia.

Under the agreement between the two parties, the first phase of the 2GW solar power plant will start on June 1, 2010, and will include build-out of 30MW of capacity. Phases 1-3 are to be 100MW, 870MW, and 1,000MW, respectively. Phases 2 and 3 are to be completed by 2014 and Phase 4 is to be completed by 2019.

The project is part of a planned 11.95GW Ordos City's New Energy Industry Demonstration Zone, which is expected to combine solar, wind, hydroelectric and biomass power sources to provide a steady supply of renewable energy to the region that includes the Chinese capital.

[source: First Solar]